TOKYO (Reuters) - Truck maker Isuzu Motors Ltd <7202.T> may
begin building trucks in Saudi Arabia early next year, becoming
the first Japanese automaker to produce vehicles there, the
Nikkei newspaper said on Monday.

Isuzu will build the midsize to large trucks from
knock-down kits, where the parts of chassis, engines and other
large components are exported from Japan, the paper said.

Initial annual production is slated for around 2,000 to
3,000 units.

Isuzu spokeswoman Ai Ito said the truck maker was
considering various options for Saudi Arabia but that the
company had made no firm decisions yet.

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Construction and thus truck demand has been rising in Saudi
Arabia, where the economy has been benefiting from a fivefold
surge in oil prices over the last six years.